An Elegant Dinner Party in the Desert

Over the weekend some close friends hosted a dinner party at their estate in the historic Twin Palms area of Palm Springs. It was a beautiful evening in the desert; mild temperatures, a star-filled sky, and just enough moonlight to illuminate the gorgeous palm trees along the streets. As we passed through the main gates of their home, we could see straight through to an outdoor fire pit that was glowing seductively, luring guests like some kind of mysterious all-powerful force. I half expected the face of the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz to appear and hover above the flames. Inside I was greeted by the lady of house, Miss BabyCakes, (see photo right). Miss BabyCakes is the heiress to the estate and is a very gracious hostess. After exchanging the appropriate social pleasantries (rubbing her ears and exchanging kisses), I made my way outside to the fire pit which was still beckoning. The fire was captivating, the flames danced happily and provided entertainment in between social chats with other guests. Naturally I saw this as a photo opportunity for the blog:

above: Here I sit, at the edge of the fire pit, enjoying a glass of Cabernet under the desert sky...

above: The stately palm trees on the grounds of their estate provided an elegant yet cozy atmosphere.
Bring on the food!

above: Chilled jumbo shrimp cocktail were a perfect way to start the evening. Meanwhile, the server passed hot hors' d'ouevres that were oh-so-delicious.

above: A work of art. This was the starter salad, with poached pear, candied pecans, heart of romaine topped with a slice of bleu cheese and a mild dressing. The fresh orchid garnish and cheese bread stick was a nice touch.

above: The Main Entree was a fabulous beef filet, served with steamed green and wax beans, Carrots Vichy, and a delicious tart of potato, onion and cheese. The plate was garnished with a tiny bunch of fresh herbs that were incredibly fragrant from their flower blossoms. This was a dinner to remember. Lucky for me, I was among friends who didn't think I was too tacky for snapping photos throughout the evening!

above: The finale: hot molten chocolate cake, drizzled with a white chocolate vanilla sauce, garnished with beautiful fresh strawberries.

Above: Showing my gratitude to our gracious hostess Miss BabyCakes, the heiress to the estate. Indeed it was an evening to remember, even for The Palm Springs Savant.

-Rick Rockhill